Japan Trip, Day 10

Chloe and I were up early. Chloe coughing, me going through photos. Chloe fell back to sleep and Camille slept in. We had wanted to get an early train to Hiroshima, but felt the girls needed rest more than anything else. After they woke, we packed the backpack and headed to the station to get some breakfast. What says “Japanese breakfast” better than beignets and donuts. Yes, we went to the side-by-side Cafe du Monde and Mr. Donut.

train – 24 jun 2008

From there, started our great transportation adventure. Rob got out the JR Rail Passes – these got us into the station and then onto the Shinkansen (bullet train) platform. We found the trains quite easy to navigate. Clear signs for tracks and for which cars were “non-reserved”. The trains stop at the exact marked spots. Our first train was 15 minutes to get to Osaka. As it pulled in, Chloe remarked that these trains must go slower than MARTA because she did feel the push of air. Nevermind that we were whizzing by the trucks on the expressway.

station – 24 jun 2008

In Osaka, we changed trains for the Hiroshima train, originating in Osaka. We watched on the platform as the crew cleaned the train and then easily flipped all the seats around to face the other way. The hour and half actually went by very quickly. I enjoyed the passing scenery (lots and lots of rice fields), except while we were in the many, many tunnels.

In Hiroshima, we had to show our passes twice to get out of the station. We then went to board the tram. The map was clear enough, but there were no instructions about how to pay. Through watching people on this and our subsequent tram ride, it appears that some people buy cards that they refill with money. They stick the card in the machine when they get on, and when they get off, the car reader deducts the proper amount. If one does not have a card, they need to calculate their own fare based on where they got on and where they got off. If you need change, you can ask the lady to make change or use a machine to make change. Then you pay the exact fare. It isn’t too hard, but I wish we had understood it before we got on!

abomb dome – 24 jun 2008

We got off the first tram at the A-bomb dome. The girls were interested in how it came to look the way it did (ground zero). We then walked around to the Children’s Peace Memorial. Something happened here that has not happened yet in Japan. A man approached us and then started following us. Unlike Paris or elsewhere, there are very few people vying for attention. I have not been uncomfortable here at all. Japan strikes me as an incredibly safe country. Young elementary students ride the public transportation and walk unaccompanied. We just ignored the man and looked at all the thousands of origami cranes.

peace memorial – 24 jun 2008

before – 24 jun 2008

after – 24 jun 2008

We walked through the Peace Park, looking at the memorials, then went into the museum. The museum made an impression on us all, including Chloe. There were some rooms that had displays a bit too graphic, that we just skipped, as Chloe is just too young. To get to the next tram (we did not want to figure out how to transfer!), we had to walk a few blocks. Thankfully, we spotted a playground (haven’t seen many of those), and the girls played for a while.

jungle gym – 24 jun 2008

tram – 24 jun 2008

The tram map was not clear on where the line turned, so we actually went the wrong way a couple of blocks, before we turned back. Our second tram reminded me greatly of the one in Paris; it was even the same RATP sea-foam green! Chloe fell asleep on the 70 minute ride. The conductor brought her handkerchief to cover Chloe’s bare arms.

miyajima – 24 jun 2008

rice paddle – 24 jun 2008

The tram dropped us off at the ferry dock, where we showed our Rail Passes and got right on board. The ferry ride to Miyajima took ten minutes. We got off, and there were the deer, just as I remembered. We walked along the shore to
go see the Itsukushima Shrine. The girls were impressed by the shrine on stilts and the ceremony that was occurring inside. The girls ate ice cream as we walked along alleyways covered with awnings to make an arcade. We even got to see the worlds largest rice scoop!

A ferry ride back. Then a local train (JR Passes work again). Then we stopped in Hiroshima and asked for reserved tickets for the train to Osaka (some were available — and the seats were a bit larger). Then a train to Kyoto. Whew! We stopped at lawson’s (a convenience store) for soba and drinks to take to the room. Showers, dinner, bed.

Everyone is feeling much, much better.

Thinking about the places the kids have been on this trip, it was funny to hear Toshie say yesterday that she has been to the light show at Stone Mountain. Stone Mounatin is eight minutes from our house, and the girls and I have never been to the laser show. Hmm.

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